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estar210's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
This could have been a fun, lively story with engaging characters, but ended up getting incredibly bogged down with the most introspection I may have ever read in a romcom. It truly felt like this book was 30% plot and 70% internal reminiscing/overthinking/musing. I also don't think that the tension between the two MCs (or their mutual attraction) was ever really illustrated - it felt very "tell, not show." Will's possessive jealousy got old REAL quick, and I wanted to love Alex, but the pattern of her never remembering the terrible traits of her exes just felt kind of short-sighted for such a sharp character. The side characters were really the best part (although I can't get over how Charlee was able to have a dinner date in the few days leading up to the restaurant opening when Will barely had time to sleep or breathe - small detail, but it stuck in my brain SO hard).
Overall, well written characters could have really buoyed the plot (which, let's be honest, was always going to be a little challenging to justify), but it wasn't realized enough for me to find it enjoyable.
Overall, well written characters could have really buoyed the plot (which, let's be honest, was always going to be a little challenging to justify), but it wasn't realized enough for me to find it enjoyable.
yayas_shelf's review
2.0
I liked the premise of the main character going back and asking exes what went wrong in their relationships so that the she could learn about herself in the process. But all the answers were the same and it was what Alex already knew in the beginning of the book so there really was no point to it.
jess_vegasgirlreads's review
3.0
I want to partially blame my job for the reason this reading dragged on. I mean, I've barely had the time or energy to read. However, this book, albeit funny, did feel a bit repetitive and stale and moments, plus, some of the editing choices bothered me. When you've got two characters who share similar names- Alex and Lexi- you should ensure that you can be clear about which one is which. There were a couple times Alex was referred to as Lexi, although Lexi is her grandmother. But, overall, Andie J. Christopher is a clever writer, and I was hooked initially. It just needed a little polishing.
salimah's review
4.0
There's a lot to unpack here. I'll start with what I could have done without: Several reviewers noted how repetitive some of the information is regarding a character's feelings/motivations/details about their life, especially toward the novel's beginning. I did find myself irritated by that, but it wasn't prohibitive. The premise was compelling enough to keep me invested and Alex was a different enough rom-com/romance heroine that I wanted to see her evolution or lack thereof in context. I wasn't sure how I felt about her until halfway through the story.
There can be a fine line between a flawed heroine and an unlikeable one (just as there is for a flawed hero and an insufferable, reductive one). For a while there, Alex's flaws ran right up to that line, but the author managed to write her into relatability territory. Initially, her mission seemed to be one that was completely at odds with her character and more than a little self-absorbed. Even her tension with the hero, initially, felt incredibly petty to me. Her self-awareness about this is what ultimately redeemed her.
The love interest had equally conflicting/seemingly contradictory motivations for his reactions to finding out about her mission and some of his initial behaviors when they interacted. I don't know that I buy that his rejection of her when they were younger would be the root cause of their mutual disdain/tension in the present day. It would have been much more realistic to me if Alex had internalized that rejection and been cold or distant with him, but the almost childish getting of each other's goat when he didn't lose face from that pivotal moment? The enemies to lovers trope felt forced. I believe there would be tension, but all internal and all on Alex's side, not the mutual desire to irritate each other because of it. Luckily, the author seemed to abandon that conceit in order to move her story forward and get her principals on the same page.
Some things/elements I loved:
A hero and heroine that are each ambivalent about the idea of having children/may opt to be child-free (I have never seen this openly discussed in a romance novel and it's refreshing/about time)
A hero and heroine that are both minimalists and aren't shamed for a lack of sentimentality in their design aesthetic (you might be thinking 'What?' Trust me, it's almost always a not-so-subtle point of commentary in this genre, especially, that minimalists are emotionally stunted and not to be trusted)
The representation and discussion of different lived experiences, including sexual orientation, gender, gender non-conformity, race, biracial identity, and attachment styles. Things like this are often addressed in romance novels in a way that can feel preachy/tokenist while also not really feeling very inclusive after all is said and done. This is a romance novel for people who are progressive, have been to therapy and/or who are open to it, and know some of the framing language and ideas.
Although I think a lot of terms like "narcissist," and "avoidant attachment" get used too casually and inaccurately, I found my avoidant attachment self cheering at the author's decision to put two avoidants together and let them work out their trauma with mindful care with each other. They reached some pivotal epiphanies together because they just *get* each other.
I laughed out loud in more than a few places. There were legitimate LOLs.
There can be a fine line between a flawed heroine and an unlikeable one (just as there is for a flawed hero and an insufferable, reductive one). For a while there, Alex's flaws ran right up to that line, but the author managed to write her into relatability territory. Initially, her mission seemed to be one that was completely at odds with her character and more than a little self-absorbed. Even her tension with the hero, initially, felt incredibly petty to me. Her self-awareness about this is what ultimately redeemed her.
The love interest had equally conflicting/seemingly contradictory motivations for his reactions to finding out about her mission and some of his initial behaviors when they interacted. I don't know that I buy that his rejection of her when they were younger would be the root cause of their mutual disdain/tension in the present day. It would have been much more realistic to me if Alex had internalized that rejection and been cold or distant with him, but the almost childish getting of each other's goat when he didn't lose face from that pivotal moment? The enemies to lovers trope felt forced. I believe there would be tension, but all internal and all on Alex's side, not the mutual desire to irritate each other because of it. Luckily, the author seemed to abandon that conceit in order to move her story forward and get her principals on the same page.
Some things/elements I loved:
A hero and heroine that are each ambivalent about the idea of having children/may opt to be child-free (I have never seen this openly discussed in a romance novel and it's refreshing/about time)
A hero and heroine that are both minimalists and aren't shamed for a lack of sentimentality in their design aesthetic (you might be thinking 'What?' Trust me, it's almost always a not-so-subtle point of commentary in this genre, especially, that minimalists are emotionally stunted and not to be trusted)
The representation and discussion of different lived experiences, including sexual orientation, gender, gender non-conformity, race, biracial identity, and attachment styles. Things like this are often addressed in romance novels in a way that can feel preachy/tokenist while also not really feeling very inclusive after all is said and done. This is a romance novel for people who are progressive, have been to therapy and/or who are open to it, and know some of the framing language and ideas.
Although I think a lot of terms like "narcissist," and "avoidant attachment" get used too casually and inaccurately, I found my avoidant attachment self cheering at the author's decision to put two avoidants together and let them work out their trauma with mindful care with each other. They reached some pivotal epiphanies together because they just *get* each other.
I laughed out loud in more than a few places. There were legitimate LOLs.
danidsfavereads's review
3.0
Well, I am sad to say I probably could have stopped reading this at the halfway mark and not been sad about it picking it back up.
I am not sure what it was, but it just didn’t work for me. I did not like Alex very much. I liked her journey to discover why her ex boyfriends moved onto marriage after her. But I feel like she could (should) have had a heart to heart with her friends and she could have saved time.
And I didn’t quite understand why Alex and Will were so hung up on each other/disliked each other so much at the beginning. I am just not sure I bought into their relationship arc.
There were some small writing things that didn’t work for me either. I was just confused in some places and that took me out of the story/had me skimming.
Basically, this one was just meh for me unfortunately.
[cw - toxic relationship with parents]
I am not sure what it was, but it just didn’t work for me. I did not like Alex very much. I liked her journey to discover why her ex boyfriends moved onto marriage after her. But I feel like she could (should) have had a heart to heart with her friends and she could have saved time.
And I didn’t quite understand why Alex and Will were so hung up on each other/disliked each other so much at the beginning. I am just not sure I bought into their relationship arc.
There were some small writing things that didn’t work for me either. I was just confused in some places and that took me out of the story/had me skimming.
Basically, this one was just meh for me unfortunately.
[cw - toxic relationship with parents]
heatheradoresbooks's review
4.0
Alex is a family law attorney, specializing in divorce. Because of what she sees in her everyday work life and what she grew up knowing, she doesn't really believe in marriage and happily ever after. When she sees her recent ex, Jason, on a reality show about getting married she realizes that after all of her relationships have ended the next person her ex dates turns into marriage. Thus sets forth her journey of self discovery as she interviews her past boyfriends to find out what went wrong.
Will and Alex refer to themselves as 'family friends', since his father was briefly married to her famous grandmother, Lexi. Both harbor a secret crush for each other that goes back to when they were teenagers, but both don't want to rock the boat and give love a try. When Will learns of Alex's plan he tags along to see what the ex's have to say, so he can figure out a plan to see what would happen if he gives his feelings a chance.
The back and forth between their perspectives really kept the story flowing at a nice pace. I really enjoyed all the characters, especially Will's grumpiness, Alex's honesty and Lexi's pizzazz.
This was a quick, slow burn, somewhat enemies to lovers and somewhat second chance romance that had me chuckling quite a few times. It's heavy on diversity and slim on the communication.
*Thanks to Berkley Books, [a:Andie J. Christopher|15521939|Andie J. Christopher|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1547501759p2/15521939.jpg] and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
More reviews here ➡ Heather Adores Books
Will and Alex refer to themselves as 'family friends', since his father was briefly married to her famous grandmother, Lexi. Both harbor a secret crush for each other that goes back to when they were teenagers, but both don't want to rock the boat and give love a try. When Will learns of Alex's plan he tags along to see what the ex's have to say, so he can figure out a plan to see what would happen if he gives his feelings a chance.
The back and forth between their perspectives really kept the story flowing at a nice pace. I really enjoyed all the characters, especially Will's grumpiness, Alex's honesty and Lexi's pizzazz.
This was a quick, slow burn, somewhat enemies to lovers and somewhat second chance romance that had me chuckling quite a few times. It's heavy on diversity and slim on the communication.
*Thanks to Berkley Books, [a:Andie J. Christopher|15521939|Andie J. Christopher|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1547501759p2/15521939.jpg] and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
More reviews here ➡ Heather Adores Books
meggarg's review
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
kbiz_md's review
I rarely DNF books, but I just could not get through this one. The internal monologue is so repetitive…constantly reminding us that Alex has no personality aside from shutting down any hint of emotional attachment.